Feed-trough and exercising device for fowls.



G. M. LINK. FEED THOUGH AND BXERGISING DEVICE FOR POWLS. APPLIU'A TION FILED FEB. 4, 1908.

917,625. r PatentedApnii, 1909.

ms NORRIS PETERS ca., WASHINGTON, c. c.

GEORGE M. LINK, OF DUNKIRK, NEW YORK.

FEED-TROUGH AND EXERCISING- DEVICE FOR FOWLS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 6, 1909.

Application filed. February 4, 1908. Serial No. 414,238.

To all whom "it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE M. LINK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dunkirk, in the county of Chautauqua and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Feed-Troughs and Exercising Devices for Fowls, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a feed trough and exercising device for fowls, and the object of the invention is to provide a device of this character, having a plurality of flexible members secured at one of their ends to the floor of a chicken house, and connected through a center element with a valve operating device connected with a chute of a feed trough, the flexible elements being adapted to receive a covering of straw, saw dust or other suitable material, and being also adapted when contacted by the feet of the fowls to operate the valve and deposit a regulated amount of feed upon the floor of the hen house.

Another object of the invention is to provide the trough chute of the device with a scatterer, whereby the grain dropping from the chute is scattered over the iioor of the hen house.

lVith these and other objects in view the invention resides in the novel construction of element-s and their arrangement in operative combination, hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of a hen house provided with my improvement. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the device, the feed bin, chute and sliding gates being shown in section. Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the centering device.

While, in the drawings, I have illustrated my improvement as being applied to the interior of an ordinary hen house, it is to be understood that the device is thus shown only as an illustration of its application and that I do not limit the application of the device to any particular structure or place of location.

In the drawings the numeral 1 designates a hen house of the ordinary construction. Secured to the floor of the hen house 1 is a suitable standard 2, supporting a feed bin 3. This feed bin 3 may be of any desired construction, and in the drawings I have shown the bin provided with an inclined wall 4, communicating with a bottom 5 to which is attached a depending chute 6. The bin 3 l may be provided with a suitable hinged door 7 by which access to the interior of the bin is obtained. The chute 6 of the bin is provided with suitable openings upon one of its faces, adapted for the reception of a sliding gate 7 and a sliding cut-off 8. These members 7 and 8 are connected with an arm 9, which is pivotally secured to a bracket 10 provided upon the chute 6. The free end of the arm 9 is provided with an eye 10, adapted for the reception of flexible element 11. This flexible element 11 is adapted to be fed through a sheave 12 mounted within the bifurcated ends of a bracket 13 secured upon the standard 2. A guide 14 is also provided upon the standard 2 and adapted for the reception of the flexible element 11. The free end of the flexible element 11, below the guide 14, is provided with a suitable ring 15, and secured to this ring 15 are a plurality of flexible extensions 16, each of which is adapted to engage with a pulley 17, provided upon a centering device 18, secured to the floor of the hen house. The ends of the extensions 16 are secured by eyes 19, or other suitable devices provided upon the floor of the hen house adjacent the walls thereof. The flexible extensions 16 are adapted to radiate from the centering device 18, as illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings, so as to provide a plurality of elements ada ted to be contacted by the feet of the fowl s within the hcnnery. Secured to the chute 6 by a depending arm 20 is a scattering device 21. This scattering device comprises a plurality of wings radiating from their connection with the arm 20, so as to provide an eifective device for scattering the feed when dropped through the chute when the sliding valves are operated. A tensional spring 22 is provided between the chute 6 and the arm 9, directly below the cut off 8, so as to pro- 'vide means whereby the gate 7 is normally closed within the chute 6 and the cut oil 8 normally opened.

My device is operated as followsz Vl hen the extensions 16 are positioned upon the floor of the hennery the elements are covered with straw, saw dust or other suitable material, and this covering is provided with a small scattering of grain. hen the fowls enter the house they will discover the grain and scratch the covering upon the floor, and in so doing contact with the radiating flexible extensions which will cause the flexible member 11 to be given a downward pull,

which will swing the arm 9 upon its pivot 10, causing the cut off to close the opening of the chute and withdraw the gate, thus allowing the grain between the cut off and gate to drop from the chute into contact with the scattering device 21, which effectively scatters the grain around the floor of the hennery.

From the above description it will be noted that I have provided a simple, cheap and effective device for feeding fowls, one by which the feed is only deposited upon the floor by the exertion of the fowls, thus effectively exercising the fowls, and in which the food is effectively scattered when the device is operated.

Having thus fully described the invention what is claimed as new is:

1. In a device of the character described, a feed bin having a chute provided with a sliding gate and a sliding out ofi, an arm pivotally connected with the chute and connected with the gate and the cut off, means connected with the arm for normally closing the gate and opening the cut off a centering device provided with a flexible member confor normally closing the gate and o ening the cut off, a flexible connection for t e arm, a sheave and a guide ring upon the standard for the flexible connection, a ring upon the connection, a plurality of flexible extensions connected wit the ring, a centering device having pulleys adapted for the reception of the flexible connectlons, and separate means for securing the extensions radially from the centering device.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE M. LINK.

Witnesses:

JOHN L. SULLIVAN, MILDRED RIDER. 

